The door closed and Jasmine faced Simon, “Why do you hang around with that oddity?”

“He's a man who understands me.”

He noted the cold tone of her voice, “Well understand this! If he shows his face here again as a non-paying client he will have to face that Jack character. It's not good for business having a good looking girl hanging around with oddities.”

“What if I refuse?” Her voice was wavering for she knew the answer.

Moving over Simon walked round the back of her. Stroking the girl's neck he answered slowly, in almost a whisper, “You say goodbye to this world my dear.”

Jazz swallowed hard. This contract with the Devil demanded her soul at the end of it.

“So, if he was to pay good money he could have my services?”

“If he paid the premium rate, which he won't be able to, he can have you as long as he wants. To my other clients that will seem, how shall I say, fair, if you pardon the pun. Also he if can afford that rate he will help pay for your upkeep.”

When the boy got back home all was not well. Howard thought for one moment that Beth had had a row with lover boy and all was off and yet the burning eyes from Anne suggested this row was with him. Yet, he had done nothing wrong? It was his day off and all was well when he left, Howard had done all his chores and made sure everything was just so to avoid having the glare of and angry bear. Yet he felt in his body along with the nagging of his thoughts that he had overlooked some minor detail.

“Where have you been today boy?” Came the cold almost menacing question fuelled by the fire of suspicion.

He had to play this as it came with no touches of sarcasm for the ceiling in this joint felt as if it was about to crash around him, which might be an aid if it really happened. Put him out of his misery. A freak should be put down, it happened in most of the films!

“I, w, weentt, t, too, t, theee t, toown.”

Anne's eyes narrowed as she placed the last piece of crockery into the cupboard and folded the tea towel placing it onto the towel rail.

“Where did you go in the town?”

Howard knew where this was going and was glad that the others were out for a storm was brewing! “I w, weent, t, too s, see aaa f, frrieend.” Clutching hold of the sofa he felt the ground beginning to shake and the room start to buckle, a tornado of anger was coming his way.

“Who is this friend?”

“A, f, friennd, th, thaat isss, l, liike m, mee.”

“A waster? An outcast? A what?”

These words were supposed to hurt and yet they failed to make a dent, the words earlier spoken by a friend had done that, he was now comfortably numb.

“I, suppossse, s, shee is!”

“She?”

“Yess, sh, shee.”

“A prostitute? A hussy?”

The storm hit Howard in the form of a verbal explosion and he, if he could have felt his body bend backwards under the force of those two words it would have snapped. As if by magic Chris entered at the right time for Howard and yet the wrong time for the man himself.

Chris felt another few words to do with women of ill repute and wondered what this woman was shouting at when it all clicked, he had heard the rumour mongers down at the village public house and down at the village hall.

“What's going on here?”

“This boy has been hanging around with loose women, paying them for their services!”

Howard retaliated ,“I, didd, n, noot p, payyee herr!”

“Did it for free? Out of sympathy?” Anne spat and felt her husband frown at her choice of words.

“Wee, were, f, friiennds! Nothiingg, m, morre!”

“Friends! With a whore? The whole village is talking about how ones have seen you go in their and how you take her around town buying her gifts and treating her as a queen!”

Chris raised the palms of his hands high to calm down this situation and yet it felt as if it was about to rage out of control, “Come on people let's get the facts first before we listen to village gossip!” Looking at Howard he asked him or was it an order, “Howard! Please sit down.”

Howard complied and sat while Anne ignored the advice to sit and remained pacing up and down the dining room floor as the kitchen floor was probably worn out by now.

“Have you been out and about with a woman,” Chris thought about his choice of words here, “Of the sort just described?”

“A prostitute!” Anne added feeling frustrated at her husband's lack of courage to tackle the point straight on here!

Howard swallowed nervously before replying in truth, “I, h, havve. But, I, diid, n, noott payy, f, foor h, herr serviceess.”

“You mean she gave them for free?” Anne's eyes looked as if they were about to explode from their sockets!

“I, havve, n, nott d, donee, w, whatt, y, yoouu, aarree, s, sayying!”

“You haven't?” Came Chris's relieved tone.

Howard looked at him, “This, is, orr, w, wassj, jusst a frienndsship.”

“Was?” Chris picked up on this word like a magistraight would and added; “Is it over now?”

Howard recalled the conversation earlier and the look on her, this Jasmine's face as she told him where to go and what he was and yet, her eyes betrayed the truth here. Maybe it wasn't over? But for now all he knew was in his reply. “Yes!”

Anne could tell by the look this small creature was giving that it was the truth and sighed feeling a little relief. The murmur crew could take their talk elsewhere now. She could tell them that their was no foundation in the story as Howard goes back to his jobs and the countdown to his departure will go ahead as planned. The calendar had the day highlighted in red ink and the day couldn't come sooner! Had it really been eight years? Her husband said it would come round quickly and yet it had seemed a lifetime of giving with so little in return. Soon that would change if all was promised to them as it had been.

“I knew that to be the case!” Chris replied feeling like he had won a courtroom battle. “Howard was so incensed about Arnold that he could no way do what you have described him as Anne. I think you should apologise.”

What did he just say? Anne glared at the man for suggesting such a thing! ”You forget dearest, he still was seen with this girl who is obviously the same girl that your friend Arnold has been with and the same one who dared step into our shop. If you think I am going to apologise to him for his actions then you have another thing coming!”

Both men watched the kitchen door slam and the picture plates reverberate from the force of the slam, yet hold with dear life on the hooks they had placed their trust in.

“I'mm, g, goiing t, too bed.”

Chris watched the boy walk slowly upstairs and sat down listening to the bangs and crashes of cupboards when Beth came in with Peter.

“I've just brought Pete back for a coffee.” Beth spoke quietly, calmly then received a look from her father before hearing the crash of another cupboard door. “Oh, like that is it?” Receiving a nod Beth decided on an alternative plan, “I'll just tell him goodnight!”

“Bad evening, best say goodnight.”

“What! None of that beautiful coffee you make?”

Her boyfriend was joking as usual for they both knew that she was good at making sludge that tasted like dirt! As for coffee? No, never. Beth slapped him on the shoulder and cautioned, “Okay, okay! I'm no good at making coffee, but if you persist in carrying on with these jokes I won't come out with you anymore!”

Peter stifled the voice which was going to place another coffee joke her way and decided to say something he had wanted to say all night and yet the courage was gone every time he wished to speak. Now though as his time was dramatically cut short he had to say this one thing or forever hold his peace!

“Can you come with me tomorrow, I've another booking to view a house I am seriously thinking of buying.”

“Not another one! You've been to about twenty and found fault with everyone.” It was her turn to mock and joke and yet he was dead serious.

“What one? Mum is going crazy at the amount of time I am steeling from the shop to go here and there. Today without Howard was almost unbearable and to ask for another couple of hours tomorrow, well don't be too surprised if you get a phone call down at the pub with one mother after you for steeling her daughter away.”

He smiled and moved round her as if circling his intended prey like a vulture. “You can tell your mother that I have every right to want to steal her daughter away! Yet I feel that if I was totally selfish in my motives that it would cause harm to the rest of her family, to deprive them of such a wonderful shining diamond! This gem of a woman should be put on a pedestal and shown to the world! For her beauty is unrivalled and no supersedes the prettiest women in the world!” He stopped and faced her, “Though I feel that I should wrap her up and keep her safe, for I would go out of my mind if someone else should deem it their worthwhile to steal her from my grasp.”

Beth stared into his eyes and felt the love, she asked, “Do you think this girl you talk about to be worth such words?”

“Words cannot measure her worth either can all the gold, silver and jewels in this world. She is irreplaceable and value cannot be put upon her soul. Like a bright light her soul shines to me and if they take you away, I could not live without you.”

He looked down at her feet and asked again, “Please say you come and see the home I have chosen?”

She placed her hands under his chin and raised his face to look at her own. “Yes Pete! I shall come with you tomorrow, to see that home you have chosen.”

Their lips met and they embraced each other for a while, as one lonely lad looked down on the scene below and felt pity for them both.

Howard tossed in his sleep as he remembered the time when he would be at home and his father came in drunk.

“Ahh!” Suddenly his eyes came open and he was staring at a spider as it spun it's web around his light fixing. The fitting needed cleaning and yet Howard couldn't just get up on a step ladder to do it. Too much pain. The spider carried on working oblivious to the day light and it being exposed to the naked eye of one observer. He felt like an unfortunate fly. One day it was weaving in and out and enjoying life, before something unseen stops it in mid- flight and now as it struggles it cannot get away from this trap and has to wait for it's end. Either by dying there from exhaustion, or being eaten by the hunter while still alive.

Howard felt like that fly, one day he was going along nicely and then bang! trapped by a body and no matter how he felt inside he couldn't get past the slow way his body seemed to move and on bad days, if he could he wished his spirit to pack up his old physical body and throw it in a bin! For his mind was active and fast, yet this body was slow and sometimes inactive. He often related this frustration to how an elderly person feels when their mind has the speed of a youth, yet looking in the mirror the body could only muster a fraction of the power of youth.

Today would be one of those days, he felt it in his bones, well actually in his muscles. His back felt the punishment of the past weeks abuse and running after being pushed over was the worst thing he could have done. His power had deserted him and he felt bruised, battered and after last night, alone. Oh how he wished they would wake up and see that its not always the first man out of the starting block that will be the ideal one for their daughter. Yes Elizabeth had had interested men in the past, but they had come and gone to be dismissed and she had one who was laying here looking at the ceiling not able to function. Of course he was her brother and that was that. Even if he was to tell Beth his feelings, she would only laugh at him and tell him not to be silly.

Howard thought back to the image of the dream and remembered where he had got to in his story of his life that he often went through, trying to find a lesson in all of it.

His father had come home from the rig and now found himself in a totally new environment. He was working down one of probably the last coal mines in Britain . John Muster worked long hours which involved him being away early in the mornings and coming in just about the time Howard would finish from school. School was the case of being picked up by Lady Covington's chauffer and arriving with style at the secondary school he had been transferred to, in the town. This school was the beginning of his new life with the seniors and yet they still had their fun at his expense. Once they stole his underwear and sniggered at him knowing how uncomfortable it is to sit in class with no pants on. Other times were worse, once he was pulled into the toilets and had his head repeatedly flushed in the pan. Another time was being beaten up by that J.C and his band of bullies behind one of the temporary blocks, yet another time was during sports when they thought it would be funny! The whole class thought it would be a laugh to chuck basket balls at him while the teacher was out checking on a few who were in trouble and had to run around the school field twenty times for punishment. While he was being pelted, one of the balls knocked him so hard that he fell backwards and cracked his head against the indoor sports hall wall. He remembered the feeling of something warm going down his back and one of the boys rushing over to see blood before Howard passed out.

The kids swore blind to the sports teacher that he had fallen backwards and caught his head on the fire extinguisher.

Howard moved his arm up and felt the scar from that one to remind him that he had not dreamt that one up.

Lady Covington was up the school like a shot, but was almost powerless to stop the bullying and so were the teachers. Howard knew as soon as their backs were turned that J.C and his hoards of fans would start on him once more.

Then there was Howard's father.

The man started well enough doing a few chores around the house on his days off and made the garden a fraction of the beauty it had possessed before. Then again Howard's mum had spent a lot more time on it. Howard did his best with things and tried to do the washing up and other chores, he even made dinners for his father when he came home from work a little late. It seemed that he was getting later and later. Lady Covington had noted this on her frequent trips round.

Then the bullying started. Howard had had a round of unfortunate experiences which were embarrassing to mention apart from the bed got a little wet from time to time and this was compounded by his father.

“Five year olds yes! But you are nearly twelve! Twelve year olds don't do this sort of thing!”

Howard flinched as his father drew up to his full height and it was then he noted what some people would regard as a snap, something in the eyes, that seems to go cloudy before the face seems to age a little before the storm.

“B, b, utt!” He tried to explain before a wallop around the head sent him almost dizzy. It wasn't a hard hit but one that stung. His father's words he'll never forget like the various other chapters of his dark past.

“You grow up boy! Don't you ever wet the bed again! Is that clear?”

Howard wanted to cry, then again he had promised himself that he would never cry again. He just stared at the man.

“Don't you stare at me that way as if I have no right to give you a telling off! You are not too old for a smack here and there. Don't fix me with those eyes! They are like a curse to me!”

The man was pacing up and down before he took no more, “I'm going out!” And out he went into the dark.

Howard often wondered where his father had gone and only found out when Lady Covington came round one day after Howard had played hooky from school because of the bullying. Howard made some tea the best he could feeling every bit of his twelve years of age.

Lady Covington smiled an edgy smile before taking a sip of the earl grey to steady the news she was going to place before one whom she loved, “Your father is going through a rough patch at the moment and has asked me to take charge of you.” She eyed Howard looking for a response. She found none, so continued; “But, I have a few engagements of my own. Pressing engagements which require my urgent attention.”

“I, I, undderst, tannd.”

She seemed to relax a little, “I have therefore agreed with your father that I can look after you when my own son comes over to Northcote at the beginning of the summer holidays. Which as you know is about eight weeks away.”

Reaching over Lady Covington squeezed his hand in a gentle motherly way, “Please hold on and endure at school till then and try not to aggravate your father dear. He's a troubled man.”

Howard was a troubled boy! Was the whole world against him? It often seemed that way and yet one woman, a woman who in her high position in society could afford the liberty of ignoring this working class disabled lad.

He had another question, “W, whhyy, c, cann't. I, I, ssttay, attt, th, thee maannoor?”

She frowned, “What, at Covington House?”

“Yess.”

Lady Covington's eyes went a little wider as she stammered out, “You, you've not heard from your father then?”

“Hearrddd, w, whatt?”

She took a deep breath, “I've put Covington up for sale and have, well, this afternoon I am going to the city to sign the papers, handing it over to the new owners. A very wealthy family called the Braithwaites.”

Howard sat further back in his seat. This was a shock to the system and how many more shocks before he departed from this world he wondered deeply? This wonderful lady who sat before him was another to depart from his life! He knew even from this tender age that he'd soon be forgotten as Lady Covington moved into her new house and started another life. Maybe she was going because of him? Maybe it was because of his father?

“I've decided to move because I wanted a clean break. The house has too many bad memories for me and the only good ones I have had recently is when either you or my son came through the door and put a little light into my life. By moving to Northcote which is my original home before marrying Lord Covington, I have many a good memory there and when you come down I wish to share them with you and my son.”

Howard still looked sad, feeling abandoned.

Lady Covington must have read his mind, again the warm hand reached over as she sat by him along with words of reassurance wrapping round the boy like a woollen scarf on a cold winters day, “I will never forget you Howard. I will always stick by my promise to help you out. Please don't feel sad. Northcote is my home and I long to have you there in eight weeks to spend the holidays with myself and my son. Please say you will come.”

Howard nodded and the sun shone in her eyes like the sun on a clear morning feeling the eagerness to warm the world and show how wonderful creation can be.

“Going to Northcote eh?” Howard's fathers comment seemed one of surprise, maybe he had forgotten?

“Yess. Laddyy, C, Coviington, as, askeed.” Howard received a frown from his father and wondered if he was about to explode. He seemed like jackal and hide lately. For instance he had just come home with an electronic game system for him. It seemed to Howard that every time his father hurt him, he felt the need to repay him in gifts. Yet, all Howard wanted was to be loved, not given gifts.

“I really wish you could at least try to talk like a man! Stammering is not going to get you anywhere in life.”

“S, sorry.”

“Either is saying sorry! I don't want any son of mine stammering around the place making the Muster name a laughing stock. Maybe lady Covington would spend out and give you speaking lessons over this summers holiday. Then you can be less of an insult to me.”

Howard was lost for words and all the better for words slurred, stammered, or perfect would only add fuel to the fire and make his father slap him or something worse. He just decided to drag his body over to the drainer and dry up the dinner things. His father never once thanked him for the meals he made.

“You know! I can't blame those boys at school for hitting you. They are only trying to beat you into shape. Make you normal.” John muttered in a half hearted sort of way as he reached for a beer in the fridge. He used to hate drinking and now? Now he seemed to form an attachment to the stuff. Helped him speak his mind and aided him through the dark hours of the day down in the gloom of the coal face. He longed for the open sea, where problems were rare and if they came along they were unexpected ones, ones that could be sorted out and would seldom come back at you again. Here the problems were the same and constant. No quick fix solution to this household and no quick fix solution to the mine giving out in about two years.

“Maybe if you tried to not walk with that foot dragging behind and straightened up you body posture you might even get a girlfriend. May even leave home and get married!” Taking a swig of the ice cold beer he heard the reply.

“I, I'mm. D, doiinng, m, my, besst!”

“You are like your mother, weak. Always claiming to do their best and yet always falling short of the norm. There's no fight in you, just a lame kid who can't be bothered to stand up and make a mark in this world. You just swan around here, hiding in this box just waiting for the world to pass you by. Your a looser kid! A no hope case, only because you are too idle to try and straighten up your body and stop being like a cripple. The sympathy vote only goes so far in this world and the majority don't care if you live or die.” John took another swig before adding; “Heck! This family was cursed from day one. You are just the epitome of that curse! Cursed to walk the cripple for life, a cripple that will always be beaten because he didn't have the guts to stand up and voice his opinion and dedicate himself to hard physical workouts to straighten up his back and his life!”

Howard had heard enough, leaving the drying up he left his gift which meant even less to him now and went off to write another poem about this life.

The final words of his father on that evening echoed in his ears.

“There you go! Off to hide under a rock, you good for nothing freak!” Then a bottle hurled its way towards him and shattered its contents over the already glass pitted door. Howard laid on the bed and curled up just waiting for the door to open and another round of freak conversations and name callings.

Except this time nothing came. The television went on and loud it was along with the sound of another bottle being opened.

“Damn waste of beer that. Too good to waste on a looser!”

The verbal abuse was over and yet it seemed to hurt more than a beating. The inside scars were the worst and no one could really understand that, because how many people possess the ability to look into your mind and touch your feelings? In Howard's case he knew the answer.

No one can.

“Good morning mother dear!” Beth called as she came onto the shop floor for another day. She felt full of life and vigour. She felt like she was full of the joys of spring even though it was now summer.

This didn't go unnoticed, “What's up with you?”

Beth took note that her mother was still probably stewing over the Howard thing, “Did Howard ever do the detestable thing you had heard through the grape vine?”

“He was with the girl for a while!”

“Ah, just a while?”

“A while. I have been assured that the reports were highly exaggerated and he was only out with her nothing else.”

Beth thought this over, maybe she should have a heart to heart with her brother. After all he often talked to her, though the conversation lately had been rather muted.

“Well mum. You must obviously know that Howard would not frequent that place this woman comes from and would not do those things.”

Anne stopped filling the shelf and looked at her daughter, with words of caution she spoke, “Are you sure? You know how strong those vices are. If it wasn't the case those places would have closed years ago.”

Facing her mother she reassured her mum, “I am certain Howard would not do those sort of things. Howard is a kind man, a gentle soul who would not hate the person, he would only hate the actions of that one.”

“What ever you say.” Came the mutter from the second shelf up where the sugar was being replenished.

“Mum is it alright if Pete and I go out this afternoon?”

Anne wasn't getting this shelf filled very quickly, especially as she had to stop at the conversation shockers! “What again?”

“It's a special day!”

“What? You are getting engaged?”

Beth blushed before responding, “No mum.”

“It's his birthday?”

“No! He has decided on a place to purchase and wants my approval.”

“Sounds like a married couple to me!” Came the voice of her father.

Beth blushed even further before replying, “Hello dad.”

“Course you can go! Anne and I don't disapprove as long as you promise to catch up on your work later.” Chris looked over at his wife for her voice of approval on this, just hoping he hadn't over stepped the mark again.

“Yes, you may go as long as you do what your father says.”

“Thank you I will!” Beth rushed over and gave her mother a big hug and then over to her father and did the same before she came to a halt when one boy stood there with a look of thunder over his face.

“Hello Howard.” Her voice sounded edgy.

“Youu aree, g, going, o, out w, witth h, himm ag, again?”

The voice was cold and Elizabeth felt as if a storm was brewing and the argument was coming like the one over the necklace.

“Yes Peter is going to show me the house he plans to buy.”

“Ssshammme!”

“Shame about what?”

Howard watched her frown and decided to go ahead with this as his heart began to beat faster along with the feeling that what ever he was going to say would not allow him to keep hold of her. He was losing her to this chump!

“Shhame, t, thatt, he, iss, n, nott, moooviing awayy!”

“Don't start this again! Don't you want me to be happy with a man?”

“Nott, h, himm!”

“Peter is a kind man, a gentleman!”

“Youu, d, doon't, kn, knoow h, himm.”

She placed her hands on her hips and felt angry at his impertinence, “I have shared a lot of time with Peter and I feel I know him very well thank you ever so much! You just want me to be sad like you. You just want me to end up as you, all bitter and twisted with no one who will love you because they can't get near the real you. I am not going to end up like that and I pray to god for your pitiful selfish self!”

Howard felt like a ship blown out of the water and yet though hurt from this woman's scorn he still had a reply, one from the heart, “I nevverr w, wannt, youu too be l, like mee. I want you to b, bee happy. With, m, my last breath I would wishh, y, you happiness my dearr Beth. But n, nott, w, with h, himm!” He turned and walked back upstairs knowing all down there were lost for words.

The car Peter hired was a nice big one with loads of space to stretch out and relax, all except Elizabeth didn't feel like relaxing. Howard's words still hurt her and her words back to him felt like, well just like she had got a large knife and stabbed him.

“My dear Beth, you positively look fed up today, what is it?”

This shook the girl from her thoughts, “Oh, just another dust up with Howard.”

Peter drew a deep sigh, “Ah, that man still doesn't like me does he?”

“No. I think he believes you have a dark past.”

He smiled before making a joke of this, “What? A dark history of villainy and all by the age of twenty five!”

“You know Howard!”

“I wish I did! But he always keeps me at arms length. That time on the boat I actually thought he was for a second going to let me in and then it was gone.”

“Howard is like that, always gets picked on and so finds it hard to confide, or should I say trust in people.”

“That explains the time when I saved him from a gang in the town near that dodgy place he…”

“Not that club full of prostitutes?” Beth asked as her eyes widened.

“Well, yes. I had observed him saying goodnight to one of its employee's and before I could ask he was set upon by a few men. I did my duty to your family by defending him.” Peter felt he had said the wrong thing and yet Beth was looking as if she could go either way on this one.

“So, it is true about my brother and a prostitute. What she look like?”

Beth was eager to know for this was the first time she had made proper eye contact with him on his journey. He in turn wanted to look into those eyes and yet had to turn away to keep an eye on the road for fear of crashing this hired vehicle.

“She was taller than him, with dark hair, slim build...”

“It is the same one who came into the store asking for Howard and telling him about Arnold .”

“From your description of the girl, they seemed to match!” Pete remembered the conversation and about how incensed her mother had been about the incident.

“Howard just stayed out the back in the alleyway. He didn't go in.” He paused before continuing, “I don't think it is a relationship of the degrading type. It appeared to me from my casual observation that it was an honourable conversation. As if two lost souls had come together to heal their wounds.”

Beth thought about this for a few seconds before laughing at his choice of words, “You have a funny way with words sometimes!”

He looked at her, “I meant no offence!”

Touching his leg she added, “I know! You wouldn't hurt a soul. I am lucky to find a soul like yours.” Then changing the subject she enquired, “Where is this place?”

“I hope you don't mind! It's in the town, well on the outskirts, a quite secluded part on the opposite side.”

Beth felt funny at this and yet putting the feeling aside she smiled and let the man take her to his castle.

“Christopher! Christopher!” Anne shouted again before asking impatiently, “Where is that boy?” She had a queue on and the post office had one too, it was old age pensioners day.

Chris came belting down the stairs, almost fell down the last few as his right foot slipped! Managing at the last second to clutch hold tightly to the banister and steady himself and his nerves he shouted back, “Coming my sweet firefly!” Then waited for the explosion coming from a hot volcano of a woman's scorn!

She looked over as he came red faced through the door with no Howard and asked impatiently, “Where is he?”

“Not there! Must have slipped out the back and gone for a walk.” The look Chris got was enough and so he decided to add, “We will, I will give him a good talking to tonight. But for now I will handle this side and you can my dear go back to your cave, um, I mean your hole, um, post office side.”

Two slips of the tongue and one Awol Howard. He was in for it tonight!

Howard stepped into the smoke filled room and at first no one noticed him as he pulled his lame leg along the wooden floor, towards the bar he came. Then one man who was with a peroxide blond sort stared at him, then another chap with a toupee. Then it seemed as if all eyes were focussed on him as he did his best to lean against the high sided bar. It to Howard was almost like one of those westerns where the bad guy swaggers in and asks for a whiskey before the sheriff or the deputy comes in behind and tries to arrest the man for his crimes.

“What do you want?” The barman asked as he frowned at the pip squeak.

“A, b, beer.” The barman was just about to get one when Howard added; “Annd, t, too, s, see th, the b, boss.”

This produced an even bigger frown which made this big man's eyebrows join at the centre, “What for?”

“I wannt, t, too, j, join.”

The frown was replaced by a smile along with a laugh, “I doubt that you would meet up to the standards we have here buddy!” Then slamming the pint of beer down he added, “Still, I'll get the bosses son, the boss isn't here. On vacation.”

Howard took a sip from the beer and felt the warmth of the stuff along with what he suspected as a little watering down. All too soon he met up with the bosses son.

“Well, well ,well! What have we here.” He smiled a cold smile, one that only he could probably pull off. Tapping his bodyguard on the shoulder he told the big guy to; “Go and fetch Jasmine. Her friend has come back to her.” Simon walked over and signalled for his favourite drink which shot up to him like a fast despatch system you get in westerns as the glass slides up and stops at the hand of the guy who asked for it.

“What can I do for you?”

Howard took a deep breath and hoped he could at least this time string out a good sentence, “I wisshh, t, to join up.”

Simon felt as if he wanted to laugh and yet he felt admiration for someone like this boy to come in here and ask this. Pulling out a rather creased membership form he placed it on the desk and allowed this Howard to peruse its contents.

“You would join this club so you can visit Jasmine?” He asked as he noted the woman come and join the party.

“Howard don't join! I told you to stay away!”

“Heck he's a paying customer I don't care!” Simon watched with interest the waves of emotions that must be flitting under the surface of this girl as she tried again to stop the lad from signing up.

“Howard if you truly care for me, then leave now. I will not have you here.”

“I wannt, t, too, s, see you. It seems t, too, m, mee thatt p, payiing foor itt, iss the o, only, w, way.” He signed on the line and pulled out the membership fee just in time, for one pain in the neck came rushing over.

“It will be my pleasure to throw this scum bag out sir!”

“It will, will it?” Simon smiled as he pocketed the money and gave Howard a copy of the club rules.

“Howard why?” Jasmine asked as the other conversation just seemed to go over her head as she stared at this remarkable man.

“Becaussee, y, youu arree, my friend!”

“Sorry J.C. The boy stays. He's a member and as a member he comes under the protection of the club.”

Jack couldn't believe his ears, “What? You let this cripple in? What will your father say?”

“He will say nothing as this cripple,” using Jack's words, Is paying double time for room service and triple for outside visits. It will pay for my father's pleasure vacations and I think he wouldn't mind me shedding some staff members who decide to question his business practices.”

The look along with the threat was clear enough and Jack just gave Howard a hard stare before turning sharply and walking back to his position by the second door where the girls came in and out. With or without a man.

Simon stared hard at the lad before saying, “Welcome aboard. Now I trust you wish this woman's services.” He got a nod then added, “Remember it's double time, anything short of that and your membership is withdrawn. Oh and any of that trickery we had the other day and I will get J.C. to kick your butt all the way across the sea. Is that clear?”

“Verryy, c, clearr!”

“Good! Have a pleasant hour or so.” With nothing more to say Simon slid away like a cobra to its hole.

Jasmine eyed him and noted that many were eyeing her before slowly one by one they lost interest in the show and went back to their drinking and smoking.

“You best come this way to my room sir!”

“You d, donn't h, haaave t, too c, call mee s, siir!”

She didn't reply, just allowed him time to find his way upstairs past the rooms full of laughs and giggles as the girls pretended to have a good time for the money. The fifth one along on the second floor was her room and Jasmine felt glad she had tidied it up a little, though it could have done with some polish on the wooden cabinet and the shared dressing table.

Entering Rosie was still titivating her hair at the desk.

“Sorry Rose! I have a paying client to attend to.”

The blonde girl smiled before adding to the smile with her high voice, “I thought so, when I heard his lordship summon you.” She picked up her make-up bag and a few other items and left.

Howard looked at the floor as the girl past by and only entered when he was sure the coast was clear.

“Welcome to my humble abode sir!” Jasmine almost shouted with a touch of sarcasm echoing around the walls.

“You, l, livve, h, here?”

It was no use hiding the fact that this guy was shocked and Jasmine felt she had to add, “Yeah. Its a little small and even smaller now that I share with Rosie, but otherwise this is what you get for being in my line of work.” Jasmine walked over and sniffed a bottle of perfume, her favourite as if the fragrance might dispel this nightmare that was standing by the door and staring at her with those hound dog eyes.

“So many men, no. So many men and women are under the impression that we earn a good living here. Heck! if that's the case I would have walked out years ago. But as you are aware, I cannot leave and I have no money as most of it goes on my upkeep.”

The words were still aggressive sounding and rang in Howard's ears, yet by her body language she was giving her game away. Like Beth used to when she pretended to be angry and yet her arms were not folded and her manner was open. This girl wanted him to be here and he relaxed at this point.

“What do you want to do with your money? This Hour is all yours.”

He smiled before a thought crept over him, “I h, hoppe, I amm n, nott s, sitting on R, rosiie's bedd?”

“No. Rosie's is the one with the tiger print cover on. She's into leopard skins and all that type of jungle stuff.” Jazz sat down by him and sighed.

“What iss th, theee m, matter?”

“This!” Jasmine said pointing to him and then the room, “This is the matter! I never wanted you to see this room Howard! To see where I live and most of all to pay for my services! You are a friend to me and friends shouldn't have to pay.”

He could tell by the fresh wave of water washing over her dark eyes that she felt strongly about him paying and about him being here.

“I, c, camme a, ass a frriend. My, p, payymment is as, a, f, frieend. A gifft t, to a friennd, a giift of ffrreddom to aaa friend. Whho d, desservess m, mooree th, than, th, thiss!”

The emotions were running high on both sides and for some reason Jasmine hugged him while whispering in his ear, “Thank you Howard, thank you!”

Rosie came back quickly and found a hug scene going on, “Sorry! Forgot my....” Looking at a tear rolling down Jasmine's face she gave credit to the girl for her acting skills and knew this was one of those mother, child relationships that she found so freaky!

“Never mind I can do with out it.” She closed the door.

The hired car turned down a narrow country path. It was at this point Elizabeth wondered where she was going?

“I thought you said this house was on the outskirts of the town?”

Peter noted the edge in her voice. As the car carried on down the country path he reached over and held her hand. “It's a little more further than I first thought.” He smiled at her knowing at any moment the house would come into view. Peter came down here originally on his motorbike. The bike didn't like it much with all those pot holes and he decided a rented car would do. He couldn't imagine Beth being too thrilled with the place on first sight if she was bobbing violently up and down on the back of his dream machine!

“I had forgotten just how far into the countryside this little road goes.” Just as he had finished saying this Peter watched the trees part and one cottage homed into view. The girl was now squeezing his hand tightly.

“Is this the place?”

Pete knew Beth was struggling to comprehend the view and matching it up to the house he had described. The girls voice was a voice of disbelief!

“It is the place that I hope will have your approval.”

The car slowed as it entered the driveway and made a bit of a noise on the cobblestones before slowing, finally grinding to a halt outside the front door.

Beth noted the front of this thatched cottage and how old yet firmly pretty it was with its small windows and its small door. It also had a few climbing roses going up the walls especially round the door frame. The cottage to no surprise was called; ‘Rose cottage‘.

“Do you wish to look inside?”

Did he need to ask? “Yes. Please do.”

Fumbling with the keys Peter finally found the front door one and moved forward to engage the lock. With a click and a slight push the door came unstuck and opened up into a small hallway with stairs running up on the left which led to a veranda type floor and then behind she noted a couple of doors, about three. This was not a standard layout for a cottage.

“The layout of the cottage is not the original one. The previous owner decided to put this grandiose staircase in and push the rooms backwards, literally extend the whole rear of it. Yet because of the size of the place, when you get up into the rooms you'll find they are of ample size and of good shape. To our left is a door to the lounge to our right is the dining room, and straight ahead is where the kitchen is located.”

Pete pointed forward, “Shall we?”

Beth reciprocated and followed this tall man through under the veranda type stairway and into the kitchen which was of large size and looked out to the massive garden. The kitchen itself could fit with ease a dining table. It had all the mod cons!

“I hope you find this to your taste?”

Looking at Peter she replied, “Oh yes! Makes mothers' look like a box room!”

“If you take a left and through this door you will find the lounge and conservatory.”

Beth went on through and found the long lounge looking as good as the kitchen and even bigger. This room too had wooden beams across the ceiling and when she looked at the patio doors leading into the conservatory she realised this room was half the size of the lounge! Then stepping through another door Beth found herself out in the massive garden, which had towards the end, a mass of fruit trees and a pond, a natural one. Turning she admired the house from the back and admitted to herself that it looked just as good from the back as the front. The lawns gave off the fresh scent of just being cut and the scent tingled her nose and threatened to make her sneeze. She often wondered if she possessed a touch of hay fever?

“What do you think of the back?”

How could hay fever affect her here at this moment in time as she walked towards this dream?

“It is extremely beautiful. I cannot see why you wanted my permission to buy this property?”

It was then as they walked under the shade of another fruit tree he clutched hold of her arm and spun her towards him.

“I have already purchased it, a week ago.”

Beth saw the humour in his eyes and realised that she hadn't needed to go round those other ones! “Hey! you've led me up the path. I didn't need to visit those other so called nice places. You swine!”

Pete received a slap to the left arm and felt him almost drop the item. He would have if his hand had not been tucked deep into his jacket pocket. “Hey! I'm sorry! I wanted you to see the dregs before I showed you the quality.”

Then his joking changed to a more serious tone, “Beth I need to speak to you about something.”

“About how you led me up the garden path?”

“No!” He replied before looking to the green short grass for the courage and inspiration to say something else, “This is important.”

Her smile evaporated like the water vapours coming off the pond with the heat of the sun.

“You know how we have come closer during the past weeks and how you know that I admire you and your family.” He paused waiting as if for an objection and yet none came.

“I now feel that the rest of my life would be a waste, if, if I didn't have you walking by my side.”

Elizabeth suddenly felt a coldness come over her as goose bumps ran like mini spiders up and down her body, “What are you suggesting?”

When he noted her cold tone Peter felt as if packing up his bags would be a good thing! Yet persistence is the key here, “What I am trying to say, is that I may have only known you for a little time, but I feel I want to carry on knowing you for a lifetime.” Pulling the offending small blue box out of his pocket and opening it with practiced speed he uttered the following very quickly, “Will you be my wife?”

Beth stood there with mouth open trying to take in the whirlwind of this conversation and how it had come to this!

Howard's voice came to her mind, “I nevverr w, wannt, youu too be, l, like mee. I want you to b, bee happy. With m, my last breath I would wishh y, you happiness my dearr Beth. But n, nott w, with h, himm!”

Was this a warning? No. She knew this man standing before her and had spent nearly every waking hour with him over the past short period of time. Her mother wanted the best and saw no malice in Peter. It was just Howard playing the over-protective brother!

“I'm offering you my life Beth!” Then nodding to the house behind he added; “At least if I'm not good enough, you can live in this cottage.”

She smiled and took the box and looked at the large diamond ring sparkling in the sun, seducing her to a life that many women could only dream of! A life with a perfect gentleman and a dream cottage with a few acres of land and enough apples to supply a well known cider factory!

Elizabeth 's mind was made up, “Yes!”

Pete stepped back, “You will?”

“Of course! You are the most kind and considerate man I know. There is no malice in you and no desire to be hateful of anyone, or anything.”

Beth took a deep breath before adding one thing, “Only on one condition.”

Pete frowned a little before asking, “What is it?”

“I will marry you! But the engagement will have to wait. The family is going through a rough patch at the moment and though this will be deemed as good news, some doubt may be cast over the fact that I have only known you for a little time, a very little time.”

“Some people marry only after a few hours together!”

“Please Peter! Be patient. Just give it another week or so. In fact it will give us time to prepare the venue for the party.”

Pete considered the turn in events and decided that a week or two wouldn't be enough for Howard to thrust a spanner in the works and after Beth's conviction, he felt justified to wait and prove his sincerest admiration for her.

“Of course. We need your father's long term friend present don't we and others to come.”

“Like others from your family.”

He pulled a pained smile, “You forget my dear Beth! I have no family. Not one. I am the last known survivor from one thing or another.”

Beth put her arm around his waste, “You have a family now. Come! You need to show me the rest of the cottage before we go back and tell my family the good news.”

“What?” Peter's brain was a little scrambled after her acceptance in a round about way.

“About you purchasing this splendid cottage of course!” She replied pulling a teasing grin.

He held her tight and just before going in through the conservatory doors they kissed a long lovers kiss.

They both laid out on the bed just staring at the nicotine stained ceiling. Both had wondered why they had been drawn to each other and now had to accept that they had something in common. Howard and Jasmine were in essence lonely souls!

“Your time is up. I will have to please someone else.”

“Oh.” was all that flowed from Howard's mouth. He didn't realise that an hour, a costly hour could go so quickly, “I, I c, coulld p, payy f, forr annnother h, hourr!”

Jazz sat up and touched his hand, “No Howard. This hour has cost you enough.” She caught his eyes and this time found the strength to look into them, “You are a young man on a poor man's wages. You can't afford it.”

“I haavee n, nothinng elsse t, too sp, spennd m, my mmmonneyy o, onn.”

She found herself smiling. After all that was what came out of some of the clients mouths and yet here was one innocent man saying those same words and meaning it in a totally different manner. It made Jasmine think over again those thoughts of why Howard and herself came together. Why was there a bond of unity which she had never experienced in her life?

Jasmine found an answer, “You have Elizabeth to spend your money on.”

A sore note indeed as Howard thought over the angry exchange. He looked at the floor, “No, s, shee will d, doo well. I th, thiinkk shee is, s goinnng t, too m, marryy Peterr.”

By the time this sentence had rang out the implications Jasmine had gone over and was brushing her hair. On hearing this the brush seemed to stop and get tangled up in the knots. Another knot in her stomach tightened its grip as it seemed to want to bleed for Howard. After all he loved the girl who to her must be like and angel, while Jasmine herself was the devil.

Yanking the brush out along with some of her jet black hair the pain felt the same as Howard's heart, “No! You must tell her how you feel! Howard you must tell her you love her and that she must choose between you and this Peter!”

“Why?” He asked as he looked back at her using the reflection of one powder dirty mirror.

Facing the real Howard and not a murky reflection of him, Jasmine went on to explain, “Because you are ten times better than he is and she has known you for a far longer time. If you want your life to be happy and not full of regrets, you must explain to Beth how you feel and do it before this chump proposes to her. After what you have told me I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't already had a go at that.”

“I, I, cann't!”

Placing the brush on the sideboard Jazz went over and kneeling down she looked up at the boy noting the fires of love burning for this Beth in his eyes. She noted also the turmoil of indecision.

“You must do it. Don't hold back, don't wait. In my experience if you loiter at it, the moment will pass you by and you will be left behind with a heart full of regrets.”

Now Jazz sat by him and spoke about a distant memory, one of haze like a mirrored view, “I was asked to be married to a nice guy once. He was twice my age! I thought at the time that this would be a boundary, or a hindrance to my and his happiness. Heck! When I'm twenty five he would be forty five and when I'm his age he would be drawing his pension!” Jasmine stood as she recalled his proposal. “He asked me to marry him and I said I would think about it. Half a year I kept him waiting and in the end all I got was a note saying goodbye and how he knew he couldn't compete with the younger men and how he had been a fool to even try.”

“Whoo w, was hee?”

“My science teacher at college!” She half-smiled before adding, “No one knew about our attachment. Only you. I often wondered how life would have been if I had accepted him and now I know. I wouldn't have ended up here.” Looking round this dump she added with hate in her voice, “In this place in this room, in this house.”

“Leavve!”

“I can't leave! I am bound to contract and that contract is a life one. Howard I've told you this before. If I run away they will find me.” She wanted to say more and yet the truth would have to hold, for now was not the time.

Almost scurrying the man out of her door she pleaded once more, “You must leave otherwise they will charge you for another hour.”

He got slowly up and walked to the door, looking back he asked, “Do yoou, m, minnd i, iff, I commee ag, gain?”

“No, of course I don't mind. In fact one day I will have to take you to see my grandmother. She lives not far from here, about an hours train journey.”

He smiled at her smile before adding, “I'll b, be baack.”

Jasmine watched the door close and felt an empty feeling of the loneliness this room now possessed. She wanted to run after him and talk about stuff! It was after all just stuff. About the bad decor of this room and the smell of smoke and some weird noises that sounded as if the place was possessed.

The door clicked back open and Jasmine felt a presence, it must be her room mate, “Don't worry the road is clear.”

“Free from that scum bag!”

She turned sharply to find Howard's nemesis standing before her.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to not see that freak again is that clear?”

“If he pays I can see him as often as he wishes to, you heard what Simon said.” She saw Jack flinch at those words, “Oh, you have thought of this off your own back? Well I ain't scared of you or your bullies!”

“You better! Because I don't care what my boss says. If Howard is out of the town, I will make sure he never does anything again.” He moved up to face her with his nose just a few centimetres from the girl, “And I will make sure his friends get a beating too!”

She blinked at this point realising that never doing anything meant death. Jazz made no reply. Howard needed to be warned and hoped that she could get to him tomorrow.

“I'll leave you to think things over.”

“When he comes back I will inform him of your threats.”

“Good! Make sure he gets the full picture.”

The door slammed closed and one Jasmine wilted under the pressure. Shaking like a leaf she reached for her cigarettes.

“I come out tomorrow.” Announced one beaming Arnold to his short friend.

“The doctor said that I can relax in the privacy of my own home and he can get on with his work. Not having to listen to my constant nagging about sharing the place with about ten other males.” He lowered his voice now, “I don't mind too much, it's just old Jason talks about dying all the time and Albert constantly blows off in the night, loudly! It's enough to give you a heart attack! Then again that is what happened to Stanley . I reckon old Albert shocked the Stanley fellow to death.”

Howard giggled about that thought, then felt a little guilty of laughing over some other persons misfortune, “Havvee, y, you tolld, C, Chriiss?”

“Nah! Thought I would give him a call tomorrow and tell him to get his backside round here pronto.”

“I'll t, tell himm. Hee, n, needs t, to knowww.”

“Yeah, I guess you are right. Best tell him to keep an ear out for my phone call.” He fidgeted a bit and wanted to scratch under his plastered arm where the doctors after x-raying him found a crack in the bone. Yet that infernal itching wouldn't go away! Either would that nagging in his head, a question he needed answering.

“Howard, you know that day I kind of took you, um, to show you a certain club.”

The boy looked at him as Arnold asked the next important piece, “Are you now frequenting it?”

It didn't surprise Howard that the rumour club had come round on it's tour of the local areas to hit the hospital and inform Arnold of his life. Anne must have mentioned it and in so doing not only shock this man but also hurt him with those pangs of guilt he had had that night he was beaten up by J.C.

He could only tell the truth, “Yesss.”

The man stiffened, his eyes showed the concern and guilt, “Heck! Look Howard I, I...”

“I don't, g, goo, th, there f, foor thaat.”

The guy seemed to swallow several times before another question came out, “What do you go there for?”

“Too, s, see a friiennd.”

“A friend?”

“A, g, girrl w, wee m, met att th, theee coffee sssh, shop.”

Arnold had to think back to that day and there frozen in his mind was that woman who had been so frank on life and she was the one he had visited the night he was beaten up. And again she was the one who had been reported to have found him. With her cold words being recalled in his ears as if they were spoken to him now, Arnold knew that Howard was right about not visiting that club for any other reason. That Ladies eyes still bored into his soul!

“That girl? So, you and her are friends. Weird huh?”

Howard smiled, “Yess wierrd. I h, havve offten th, thought thatt s, soo.”

“I still regret taking you there.”

“And I. All exceept, t, thhe p, parrrt about m, meeting J, Jasmine.”

Arnold saw the look of delight in this young man's face which led to him asking, “Are you in love with her?”

Howard frowned at the question and answered straight away, “Nnoo.”

That was plain enough and straight to the point that it left a gap in the conversation before Arnold found another topic, “I hear Beth is dating a nice young man?”

This put a storm cloud over Howard's head, “No!”

“Oh, have they broken up?”

“No!”

A tense situation had just come round the bed and bit him! it was clear by the second ‘no' that Howard didn't like this feller Elizabeth was dating. So Arnold felt relief when a nurse came up, or was it the matron?

“Sorry mister Riverman, but visiting time is over.” With a smile she left and Arnold was faced with a boy that had a face like thunder!

“Oh well! Sorry Howard. Must obey hospital regulations.” He observed the lad struggle to stand and as the boy turned to face him it reminded him, “Don't forget to let Chris know about tomorrow.”

“I w, wooon't.”